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Highlights |
by Pearl Fawcett-Adriano
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![]() Early evening saw the presentation of Wolmer's biography, written by Alberto Sarzi Madidini, and this took place in the elaborate, Romanesque-style Teatro all'Antica. Tributes were paid to Wolmer, and I was happy to be with two of my friends -- Beniamino Bugiolacchi (former Director of the Accordion Museum, Castelfidardo) who presided over the proceedings, and maestro Peppino Principe. After the book launch, there was an open-air concert of Wolmer's compositions, with Beniamino Bugiolacchi as Master of Ceremonies. The accordionists taking part were virtuoso Marco Valenti, also Pietro Marelli, and Tiziano Chiapelli and his group, and the type of music was very wide-ranging (from waltzes, polkas and virtuosic, to descriptive and swing numbers), demonstrating the remarkable talent of Wolmer as a composer. The music was interspersed with archive film-clips of Wolmer on various Italian TV shows, which gave an added dimension. A very original and attractive feature was the participation of two professional dancers from Rome – Giancarlo Giacomobono and Elena Botti. Without rehearsal, they spontaneously improvised their dances to selected pieces of music that the accordionists were playing, and this contributed to the mood and atmosphere of the evening. The following morning a Mass was held in memory of Wolmer Beltrami, thus concluding the event. I was pleased to have been invited to the celebrations by Wolmer's daughter, Fiorenza, and although I never knew Wolmer personally, my late husband Adrian Dante knew him as a musician and friend. I now feel a strong connection with the great Wolmer through my late husband and also my friendship with Fiorenza and family. |
by Rob Howard
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This year’s Roland Corporation's ‘V-Accordion Festival – National Finals’ takes place on Friday September 25th, 6pm, at the Doubletree Commerce Hotel, 5757 Telegraph Road, Commerce, Los Angeles, California. The contest will select a winner who will travel to Rome, Italy, for the Roland V Accordion International Festival in November 2009. The competition gives an opportunity to hear a number of promising players of different ages perform in a wide variety of different musical styles. In addition to hearing the finalists perform and seeing the winners selected, there will also be a featured special guest who will also perform a special ‘mini-concert’ on the V-Accordion. Seating is limited, and tickets will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis to attend this special event. For further information email: ron.lankford@yahoo.com |
by Holda Paoletti-Kampl
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![]() The festival, dedicated to the accordion, offered many events with important artists such as the Ensemble Mantici Armoniosi dir. da Paolo Picchio(Italy), Massimiliano Pitocco DUO(Italy), Antonio Spaccarotella(Italy), and Ludovic Beier (France). For the national event a record number of competitors participated, made more interesting with the selection of candidates for the Tropheé Mondiale 2009 CMA. The winners of the Orpheus Award 2009 (best Italian CD 2008) are: Classical Music: Claudio Jacomucci, ‘Wonderlans’, Adatto Records Jazz Music: Luciano Biondini, ‘Prima del Cuore’, Enja Records World Music: Fabio Rossato + Ivan Tibolla, ‘Impressioni Lontane’, Emmerciesse Records Further results can be looked up on the sites: www.accordionartfestival.com www.accordions.com/aaf The jazz accordionist Renzo Ruggieri (picture right Artistic Director), and Claudio Azzaro (President), again focused on bringing innovation to the accordion world on an international basis. The next festival is planned for June 2010. |
by Rob Howard
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![]() ![]() The Dubrovnik Summer Festival presents a rich program of classical music, theatre, opera and dance on more than 70 open - air venues over 47 days in summer each year. Rector's Palace is a historical cultural museum today and its atrium is one of the most frequently used venues for classical concerts and recitals. The Zagreb Soloists ensemble was founded within the Zagreb Radio and Television studios in 1953, under the artistic leadership of Antonio Janigro, the famed cellist and conductor, with whom they soon became one of the world’s most outstanding ensembles of its kind. Acclaimed as “A genius, a poet, a super-sensitive musician,” by sandiego.com, Croatian guitarist Robert Belinic was the sole winner of the 2001 Young Concert Artists European Auditions in Leipzig, Germany, and in 2002 was the first guitarist ever to win a place on the Young Concert Artists roster in New York. Miran Vaupotic is most prominent Croatian accordion artist, often performing with world's leading chamber and symphony orchestras. He has won the Croatian Accordion Competition two times and has been a laureate of the International Accordion Competition in Pula (1999). In 2003 he won the World Accordion Competition Award in Italy, in 2007 the Grand Prix at the International Golden Trophée Competition in New York and in 2008 he was the winner of the International InterArtia Competition in Volos, Greece. The International Art Society declared him Artist of the Year 2008. In attachment: Photo 1 Belinic (guitar) Vaupotic (bandoneon) Photo 2 Rector's Palace Photo 3 Vaupotic (bandoneon) |
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
by Herbert Scheibenreif
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![]() Here you can see Elena and Aidar performing, Aidar playing the accordina: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvG2CYHWH2Y |
by Rob Howard
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![]() The school opened in June and has teachers giving lessons in chromatic, piano, and GCF diatonic button accordion. Sheila and Mark are promoting a “studio environment”, with private, group, and band lessons, emphasizing styles like Tex-Mex, Norteño, Conjunto, Zydeco, and more. In addition to Sheila and Mark, the studio’s staff includes Mario Pedone and Ross Witte. Houston Accordion Performers will hold an all-day celebration on September 12th to celebrate its grand opening. The day will start with the studio’s accordion band appearing in Houston’s Fiestas Patrias International Parade, followed by a concert at the studio. |
by Rob Howard
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![]() Jean Harduin, winner of several competitions early in his career, has performed extensively on radio and television in France, and has composed over 400 titles. For further information email: jean.harduin@aliceadsl.fr |
Future events |
by Rob Howard
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![]() Volunteers with the hosting Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society will welcome various accordionists to the annual event staged at Waterwheel Park. “This year, as well as accordion soloists and groups, we will have another type of toe-tapping - a demonstration by the Cowichan Valley Cloggers at noon and 2.30pm,” organizer Shelagh Armour-Godbolt said. The event features award-winning Chemainus button accordionist Eric Oscar at 11.30am, The Acchords at 12.30pm, Powell River teenage accordionist Steven Cramaro at 1.15pm, and The Nanaimo Accordion Band at 1.45pm. Accordionists will end the afternoon with a jam starting about 3.30pm. |
by Rob Howard
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Cumbiaga perform at Barbes, 376 9th St, Brooklyn, NY, 9.30pm, on August 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st. Cumbiaga play music inspired by the classic sound of 1950s Colombian bands. The line up is Sinuhé El Chino - voice, guitar, percussion; Brian El Michael Knight - percussion; Lázaro El Flash - voice, guitar; Diallo El Diablo - upright bass; Roberto El Parce – accordion, and Hugo ‘Huge-O’ Moreno - trumpet. |
by Rob Howard
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The International Accordion Summer Festival/Seminar takes place from July 31st to August 6th in Maironio str.8, Palanga, Lithuania. The event includes concerts master classes and seminars. |
by Rob Howard
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![]() The course includes such topics as assessing condition: determining problems and solutions; disassembly and reassembly procedures in basic maintenance and cleaning procedures; treble keyboard work: pulling the axle, key removal and cleaning, pallets issues; understanding how reeds work, their types and problems; reed-banks and reed-blocks layouts; Stradella (Standard) bass; basic tuning procedures; re-waxing and re-leathering; common bellows issues; preventing problems: care of your instrument, and more. For further information email: accordion@sprynet.com |
by Rob Howard
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![]() ![]() Guest artistes include Jimmy Thibodeaux (picture below right) & Gumbo Cajun Band (USA), Zydeco Joe (picture top left) & Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler (USA), The Hackney Ramblers (UK), Cajun Roosters (Germany/UK), River Zydeco Band (Netherlands), Des Fais Do Do (NL), Creole Cats (Germany), Ton Ton Gris Gris (France), Bayou Chicot (France), and Blue Bayou (France). Cajun accordion workshops will be led by Daniel Chapy. Films to be screened include ‘Dedans le Sud de la Louisiane’, ‘Portrait of Clifton Chenier’, ‘From La La to Zydeco’, ‘Absolution’, and ‘Portrait of Zydeco Joe’. For further information email: bayouprod@aol.com |
by Rob Howard
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![]() August 28th to 29th – Warsaw Tango Festival, Poland September 4th – Belgrade Tango Festival, Serbia 13th –Tano Tango Festival, Naples, Italy 20th – Santorini Music Festival, Greece Beltango, from Serbia, specialise in tango, and in particular the works of Astor Piazzolla. Their popular performances have taken them to many parts of the world and are fiery and passionate and much admired. In 2008, they released a triple CD pack titled Trilogia. Beltango’s members are: Aleksandar Nikolic - bandoneon/accordion, Ivana Nikolic - piano/vocal, Jovan Bogosavljevic – violin, Bogdan Pejic – electric guitar, Ljubinko Lazic - double bass. For further information email: info@beltango.com |
by Rob Howard
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Entetainers performing include Bohola – a duo featuring Chicago’s leading Irish button accordionist Jimmy Keane and the remarkable bouzouki player and vocalist Pat Broaders, Emerald Isle, the Lochside Celtic Band, Sons of the Gaels, and the Dublin City Ramblers. For further information email: BufIrish@aol.com |
New and Updated Sites |
by Werner Weibert
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The 3rd edition of the Diatonic News (www.Diatonic-News.com) is now online. This is a site dedicated to diatonic, concertina, button box, bandoneon type instruments and a new edition is published on the 1st of each month. The Diatonic News site is unique, in that contributions are published in the language there are sent and viewers can use an online translation if they need. Please send news to: Holda Paoletti-Kampl or Werner Weibert email: weibert.werner@tele2.at |
by Rita Davidson Barnea
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The Accordion USA News for August is now online. |
by Charnwood Publishing
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Charnwood Publications releases 6 new pieces by composer Sue Coppard titled, 'The Wedding, catalog:M637', 'Picnic Time in BavariaThe Village Green, catalog:M638', 'The Swing of Kits, catalog:M639', 'At the Bar Flamingo, catalog:M640', 'Warszawa Mazurka, catalog:M641', 'Forever no More, catalog:M642'. Purchase with credit card. |
by H S Productions
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H S Production releases 4 new pieces, 'Etude, catalog:hs561', 'Etude, catalog:hs564', 'Etude, catalog:hs567' and 'Etude, catalog:hs568'. Samples of the music are available online. The music are in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card. |
by MusicForAccordion.com
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MusicForAccordion.com site releases 5 new pieces - 'Vieni Sul Mar (Oh Come To The Sea), catalog:mfa7065' and 'I Dream Of Jeanie, catalog:mfa7066', 'Cradle Song, catalog:mfa7067', 'Cradle Song (Easy Version), catalog:mfa7068' and 'The Rose Of Tralee, catalog:mfa7070'. Samples of the music are available online. The music are in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card. |
by Wallace Liggett
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Wallace Liggett - accordionist, composer, releases 2 new works for accordion available for purchase online. 'Polka For Two, catalog: WL1031' and 'Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra or Accordion, catalog: WL1032'. Samples of this music is available on the site. The music is in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card. |
by H S Productions
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H S Production releases 5 new pieces, 'The Smolensk Quadrille, catalog:hs577', 'In The Cherry Garden, catalog:hs580', 'Bjelorussian Polka, catalog:hs581', 'Horsey, catalog:hs582' and 'Turkmen Folk Song, catalog:hs587'. Samples of the music are available online. The music are in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card. |
by MusicForAccordion.com
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MusicForAccordion.com site releases 4 new pieces - 'American, The Beautiful - catalog: mfa7054' and 'Dixie-catalog: mfa7055', 'The Lost Chord - catalog: mfa7059' and 'Country Gardens - catalog: mfa7060. Samples of the music are available online. The music are in eSheet format, able to be emailed to your computer. Purchase with credit card. |
CD Reviews |
by Joan C. Sommers
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